Programme Overview
Qualification
BSc (Hons)
Provider
Singapore Institute of Technology
Duration
4 years
Total credits
240
Application period
8 January to 19 March 2025
Next intake
Campus location
SIT@Dover (SIT Punggol Campus from May/Jun 2025)
The Bachelor of Science with Honours in Occupational Therapy is a four-year, direct honours programme designed to provide an excellent educational experience in the theory and practice of occupational therapy.
“Occupational therapy involves assessments and interventions to work or school, self-care, leisure or play, physical environments as well as cognitive, mental and physical components of function to enable individuals affected by physical injury or illness, developmental or learning disabilities, psychosocial dysfunctions or the ageing process, to engage in everyday life occupations in order to maximise the independent performance of life roles, prevent disability and maintain health.”
The programme requires successful completion of academic courses and clinical practice education and aims to equip graduates with knowledge, skills and attitudes to support contemporary development and delivery of occupational therapy, meeting the evolving needs of the Singapore population. Graduates who meet the requirements of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) for registration and practice as an occupational therapist will work in a wide variety of settings. SIT occupational therapy graduates will be competent critical thinkers, occupation-focused, evidence-based, reflective and self-directed practitioners.
Do note that the healthcare staff guidelines and requirements that apply to healthcare institutions also apply to Health Sciences students. Non-compliance with these guidelines may affect your ability in meeting course requirements, graduating, obtaining registration or employment, and fulfilling bond obligations. It is crucial to adhere to these guidelines to ensure successful completion of your studies and future professional opportunities in the healthcare field.
Curriculum Structure
The pedagogy is customised to the type of content that needs to be learnt. For example, team-based learning, a form of a flipped classroom, uses structured small-group learning that emphasises student preparation out of class and application of knowledge in class. Problem-based learning will help students integrate knowledge to cases while promoting skills of enquiry and self-directed learning. Lectures, tutorials and practical sessions will be employed as required in various modules. A variety of assessment methods (e.g., group projects, simulated clinical scenarios) will be used to assess higher-order thinking and clinical reasoning skills.
A quality and up-to-date curriculum is ensured through consultations with Industry Advisory Committee, occupational therapists in clinical settings, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists as well as accreditation and recognition process through the AHPC and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Clinical Practice Education
All Occupational Therapy students need to undergo around 1000 hours of clinical practice education (CPE) across various clinical settings. Such clinical placements prepare students for the real-world clinical practice. Therefore, students get to apply theoretical and clinical knowledge and build up their confidence in clinical skills. Students need to pass all clinical placements to graduate from the programme and to be registered under the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC).
Students may be eligible for an exit award "Bachelor of Science in Care Sciences" if they fail to meet clinical practice education module requirements for the award of an honours degree, subject to fulfilling conditions for the exit award.
Career Conversion Programme
(formerly known as Professional Conversion Programme)
The Career Conversion Programme (CCP) helps and supports mid-career Singaporeans in acquiring relevant education to achieve the qualifications to be registered as an Occupational Therapist in Singapore. SIT currently offers the following programme under the CCP for Occupational Therapists:
| CCP | Degree Programme | CANDIDATURE | Tuition FEES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapists | BSc Occupational Therapy | Full Time – 4 years | Subsidised fees for Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and International Students are located in Tuition Fees. |
CCP applicants must apply to both SIT as well as WSG during the application period in order to be considered. For more information on CCP eligibility, process and funding, please visit WSG CCP for Allied Health Professionals.
Career Options
Graduates can be employed as occupational therapists in a variety of settings, such as:
- Public, Private, and Community Hospitals
- Intermediate and Long-Term Care Organisations, including Nursing Homes, and Rehabilitation Centres
- Private Practice Clinics and Consultancy
- Special Schools, Early Intervention, and Child Development Centres
- Government Agencies
Programme Structure (AY2025/26)*
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 6 |
| Health Systems - Singapore’s Perspectives | 6 |
| Psychological and Sociological Perspectives for Health Sciences | 6 |
| Occupational Therapy Theory and Study of Occupation | 6 |
| Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 6 |
| Occupational Performance Across the Lifespan | 6 |
| Occupational Therapy Process and Skills | 12 |
| Leisure and Community Participation | 6 |
| Occupational Therapy Group Interventions | 6 |
| Neuroscience for Occupational Therapists | 6 |
| Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 6 |
| Application of Psychopathology in Occupational Therapy | 6 |
| Daily Living Skills | 12 |
| Occupational Therapy Intervention and Reasoning | 6 |
| Health Research Methods | 6 |
| Occupational Therapy Practice Skills | 6 |
| Work and Productivity | 12 |
| Play, School and Transition | 12 |
| Occupational Therapy and Chronic Disease Management with Older Adults | 12 |
| Honours Thesis Proposal | 2 |
| Professionalism, Ethics and the Law | 6 |
| Occupational Therapy Entrustable Professional Activities | 6 |
| Occupational Justice and Disability Studies | 6 |
| Global Health | 3 |
| Occupational Therapy: Consolidating Theory and Practice | 6 |
| Clinical Practice Education 1 | 6 |
| Clinical Practice Education 2 | 6 |
| Clinical Practice Education 3a | 6 |
| Clinical Practice Education 3b | 6 |
| Clinical Practice Education 4 | 6 |
| Honours Thesis | 16 |
* The programme structure is subject to change without prior notice. SIT regularly reviews its curriculum to ensure that it remains industry-relevant and prepares our students for the evolving needs of industry.
Eligibility and Exemption
SIT selects candidates for this programme using an aptitude-based approach that considers passion and suitability for the profession, academic achievement and co-curricular involvement. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for the Health Sciences Admission Exercise, which consists of an essay and an interview.
Listed below are the relevant admission criteria:
A Levels
Obtained a good pass in two H2/HL subjects, with a good pass in H1/SL or H2 /HL (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science, Mathematics, or Economics), and also offered General Paper or Knowledge & Inquiry in the same sitting while satisfying Mother Tongue requirements.
Polytechnic Diplomas
- Completed a relevant local polytechnic Diploma; and/or
- Acquired relevant full-time work experience of one to two years
Note
- Diplomas that are not listed may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Module exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
International Baccalaureate
Obtained a good pass in two H2/HL subjects, with a good pass in H1/SL or H2/HL (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science, Mathematics, or Economics); while satisfying Mother Tongue requirements.
Other Local Diplomas
NUS High School Diploma Prerequisites
Obtained a good pass in two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Economics.
Other equivalent Year 12 qualifications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Mandatory English Requirement
Applicants to the Allied Health Programmes are required to fulfil ONE of the following English requirements by application closing:
|
Qualification |
English Subject |
Minimum Grade Required |
|
GCE O Level |
English as First Language |
C5 |
|
IELTS (Academic Module) |
IELTS |
7.0 for all components (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) |
| TOEFL | TOEFL | At least 250 marks for computer-based test or 600 marks for paper-based test or 100 marks for internet-based test |
| OET | OET | Grade B and above |
|
Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) |
English Modules |
C+ |
|
GCE A Level |
General Paper/Knowledge & Inquiry |
D |
|
International Baccalaureate (IB) |
SL/HL English A: Language & Literature OR; |
4 |
|
NUS High School Diploma |
EL4101 or higher (EL5101, 6103) modules |
C+ |
Applicants who hold a first degree from Singapore, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States of America will be deemed to have fulfilled the stipulated English Language requirement for the programme.
Please refer to the Mandatory Medical Clearance for additional requirements.
Career Conversion Programme (formerly known as Professional Conversion Programme)
The Career Conversion Programme (CCP) helps and supports mid-career Singaporeans in acquiring relevant training to be Occupational Therapists. CCP applicants must apply to both SIT as well as WSG during the application period in order to be considered.
For more information on CCP eligibility, process and funding, please visit WSG CCP for Allied Health Professionals.
Degree Conversion
Applicants with a Diploma in Occupational Therapy from Nanyang Polytechnic accepted in the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme will be offered a degree conversion route after matriculation.
The final intake of the degree conversion route will be in Academic Year 2026.
Fees and Finances
Singapore Citizen
Subsidised fees per credit
$155.00
Total credit
240
Tuition fees: $37,200.00 for SG Citizens / $149,243.00 Non-subsidised fees.
Permanent Resident
Subsidised fees per credit
$295.00
Total credit
240
Tuition fees: $70,800.00 for Permanent Resident / $149,243.00 Non-subsidised fees.
International Student
Subsidised fees per credit
$408.75
Total credit
240
Tuition fees: $98,100.00 for International Student / $149,243.00 Non-subsidised fees.
Industry Advisory Committee
The members of the Industry Advisory Committee for this programme are:
Chairman
Adjunct Professor Susan Niam
Director-General of Health’s Office, Chief Allied Health Officer’s Office, Ministry of Health
Member
Dr Effie Chew
Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital
Member
Mr Anjan Kumar Ghosh
Group Director, Sector Capability & Transformation Group, National Council of Social Service
Member
Ms Paulin Koh
Director-General of Health’s Office, Chief Nursing Officer’s Office, Ministry of Health
Member
Adjunct Associate Professor Melissa Chua
Deputy Chief Allied Health Officer, Director-General of Health’s Office, Chief Allied Health Officer’s Office, Ministry of Health
Member
Adjunct Associate Professor Michael Ong
Group Director, Allied Health, National University Health System
Member
Adjunct Associate Professor Lim Yen Peng
Executive Director, NHG Cares Services (Allied Health) and Deputy Group Chief Allied Health, National Healthcare Group
Member
Adjunct Associate Professor Yong Keng Kwang
Group Chief Nurse, National Healthcare Group
Member
Adjunct Professor Lita Chew Sui Tjien
Group Director, Group Allied Health, SingHealth
Member
Assoc Prof Ng Yee Sien
Head & Senior Consultant
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
Member
Mr Eric Ho Chun Keong
Director, Allied Health, Woodlands Health
Member
Ms Jessica Hooi
Vice Principal, St. Andrew’s Autism School
Member
Mr Abhimanyau Pal
Chief Executive Officer, SPD
Ex-Officio
Assoc Prof Kwah Li Khim
